College

When school starts up again I'll be a Senior (finally). I already know what colleges I want to apply for and everything. But the thing is I'm not sure when I should apply. Should I do it this summer, in the fall, or when? And when do they usually tell you if you've been accepted? Do the SATs really effect your chances of getting in?
If someone can answer any of my questions, or give me any helpful advice about Senior year or college I'd really appreciate it!

Anyone...

As Angelina said, always apply as soon as possible. They'll be nothing more annoying that finding out you may have been accepted, but applied too late, and all the places had been taken.

Deffinately apply on the fall. They will tell you that you have been accepted no later than the beginiong of the spring, and yes SAT'S do effect your chances of getting in, but not all colleges require them, so look into that. Just talking from my experiences. I just gradusted last year and am starting college in September.

I'm a Senior this year, too. I know what college I want to go to, but I never thought about when I would apply :/

Maybe if you go to the college website or phone one of the counselors or whoever, then they'll be able to tell you. Also, don't be afraid to get annoying and ask them whatever questions you need answers to. It'll help in the long run =)

I'm going to be a senior too this year, and I don't mind telling you about a few things my guidance councelor has passed on to me.

The SATs are demanded in almost every GOOD university. Some community colleges overlook the exam, but nevertheless, it is important to take the SATs because it prepares you and shows the college your prestige responsibilites in test taking. Getting a good grade on the SATs would be very good for you, although it does not fully determine your legibility for the college you are applying to. =)

AP (Advanced Placement) classes, are also important. They look really well on your transcript and applications. Taking an advanced class shows you are prepared to study hard and work with college level materials. Just taking the class will give you higher standards on preparation for the class in college, but taking an authorized AP exam is even better! If you achieve a 4 or 5, which are two high grades for AP exams, (5 being the highest) you are guaranteed to save money and time in college. Most universities will even exempt you from the APclass you took in highschool and move you to a more advanced class in college. Although it is a lot of work, AP classes pay off rather nicely in the long run. Whether you get a good score on the exam, or even decide to take an exam for an AP class, you will still be prepared for the college challenge.

Now, in September straight away when school starts (which I am assuming it starts sometime then), you should get a lot of things ready. Make sure your transcript is full, you took your exams, your grades are good, your GPA (grade point average) is acceptable. Make sure you have done some type of community service. For example, volunteering in a hospital, or a day care, is greatly honored by colleges. You need to show them, once you apply, that you are dedicated to your community. Volunteer according to your desirable career, you will learn lots about the field you like. Sports and other activities are also important. If you play a good sport and involve yourself in many clubs or programs, many colleges would be impressed and love the idea of your communication. These things are so simple, but they could take up your time. Make sure you have a few of them to make your application shine! In the fall, (Preferably November) you will be ready to send out applications.

The best way to guarantee yourself a college admission, especially if it is over populated and challenging, is to go for an early admission. Each college has a different deadline for their early admissions, so you would have to check that up online at their websites. Early admission would mean while your friends are all still waiting to see what college they got into, you would already know by early March or so, whether you have made it or not. Early admissions also impress the college board because they realize how eager you are to attend their college. In this they see great responsibility. Even if you don't have everything needed done, like finished AP classes, or your SATs, you can still go for an early admission and have the college see results from things not finished later on. If early admission seems completely out of your mind, most deadlines for applications for students wishing to start the next Fall, would be in December. So get those applications out!

I think the best thing for you to do now is to follow my advice, and make sure you find out a lot about the college you want to go to. Visit them, speak to them, talk to others about it, get advice from friends and families, because it is a big step in your life. Try to find a college that will have a good program for you...after all, this is your future we are pending.

Hope all stays well,

Take care.
Sarah

If you have any more questions PM me, I'd be happy to help with what I know.

Thanks a lot, that was definetly extermly helpful.

~ I read that though SAT and ACT scores do matter, they have nowhere near the effect of things like AP classes or participating in sports, clubs, etc.
Also, college admissions look not only at your GPA, but they look at what classes you take. So, don't slack off your senior year and take a bunch of easy classes. The harder the classes you take, the better it looks!!

Has anyone taken Physics? And if so, is it harder then Chem is?

The physics that I took (the majority of it) was genreally harder than the chem that I learnt.. but then again I don't really do good in sciences.. that's just what I found =)

Yeah, I took physics in my Junior year. Although Chemistry is my favorite subject, I found Physics to be much easier. It is just a bunch of mathematical common sense in equations. It requires a lot of thinking, but it is also fun and less information to grasp then Chem.

Oh, and your welcome for the advice! =)